The Express Entry system allows foreign skilled workers to apply for permanent residence in Canada. The categories of applications that fall within the Express Entry include the Federal Skilled Worker Category, the Federal Skilled Trades Category, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Provincial Nominee Programs. In order to apply under these categories, qualified foreign applicants must first register an expression of interest with the Express Entry then wait to see if they are invited to apply for permanent residence.
There is no requirement to have a job offer in Canada to apply under the Express Entry, the applicant’s qualifications will be assessed on the basis of their ability to become economically established in Canada, including their education, skilled work experience, and ability to speak English or French, among other factors.
CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CLASS
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a type of application for permanent residence for foreign workers living in Canada.
To qualify under this category, you must have obtained the equivalent of at least one year of full-time skilled work experience in Canada within the last three years. You must also show English or French language abilities commensurate with the skill level of your work experience. To apply under the CEC, you must register through the Express Entry system and wait to be invited to apply for permanent residence.
FEDERAL SKILLED WORKERS CLASS
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) allows those who have at least one year of skilled work experience to apply for permanent residence in Canada. Under this program, applicants must meet minimum levels of education, skilled work experience, and language skills. Applicants are also assessed based on their age, adaptability to settle in Canada, and whether they have a valid job offer.
PROVINCIAL NOMINATION PROGRAM
Each of Canada’s ten provinces has its own small immigration program with each province or territory having its own criteria.
FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES CLASS
Allows skilled workers in the construction and manufacturing sectors to work in Canada and to settle under permanent resident visas.
The Express Entry program allows for the submission of expressions of interest in immigrating to Canada for certain types of economic programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Category, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Category. The Provincial Nominee Programs can also draw applicants from this system.
After applying for Express Entry, you are placed in a pool with all the other applicants. Immigration candidates are ranked against each other, and the immigration authorities will periodically draw from the pool. Those with the highest scores will then receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada.
You do not need a job offer in Canada in order to apply under the Express Entry. Rather, the immigration authorities will look at a range of qualifications to decide who will be selected for immigration to Canada, including the applicant’s age, level of education, language ability, and work experience, among other factors.
Step 1: Create An Express Entry Profile
Express Entry consists of a 2-step process. First, you create an Express Entry profile, providing information on your education, work experience, language, and other skills. Once you submit your profile, you will be placed in a pool of candidates. Candidates are ranked through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and top-ranking candidates are regularly invited to apply for permanent residence. Our Canada Express Entry Calculator can help you determine how many points you would likely receive.
Step 2: Invitation To Apply (ITA)
Candidates within the Express Entry system are ranked against each other based on a point system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS measures factors such as age, work experience, language skills, valid job offers, and education, among other factors. Your score is calculated by assigning points to the above factors. It is possible to earn additional points for things such as receiving a provincial nomination. The total amount of points available, and thus the highest CRS score one can obtain, is 1200.
Every few weeks, those with the highest CRS scores will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Previous rounds of invitations (express entry draws), and the score needed to get an ITA can be viewed here. The score required to receive an ITA depends on the number of people in the pool, the qualifications of those people, and the number of invitations being given out. Once you receive an ITA, you have 60 days to submit an online application for permanent residence. Once received, the immigration authorities try to process these applications for permanent residence within six months.
Express Entry draws take place regularly, usually every two weeks or so. Each draw is accompanied by the Minister’s Instructions, a document that includes the date and time of the draw, the number of candidates that will be drawn, and which specific program(s) will be included in the draw. After each draw, they publish what was the lowest score accepted.
If you continue to qualify under one of the above-mentioned immigration streams, and you are still interested in permanent residence, you can re-apply to the Express Entry pool.